Late Roman Bronze Steelyard Balance & Weight Ensemble

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Exceptional Antiquities | Ethnographic Art

By Artemis Gallery

Oct 11, 2018

Set Reminder 2018-10-11 10:00:00 2018-10-11 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities | Ethnographic Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-ethnographic-art-3500
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• Lot Description
  Roman, late Imperial to early Byzantine Period, ca. 4th to 6th century CE. A beautiful cast-bronze steelyard balance (statera) with a rectangular-sectioned rod adorned with incised measuring segments denoting weight, and the handle displays a Greek inscription "EYXAPIOY" (belonging to Eucharios) surrounded by two crucifixes. The rod has a rounded pyramidal knob finial on either end as well as two riveted rings, each with a curved hook. A large hangar with balustrade-capped terminals supports a pair of hefty chains with spiked hooks for holding large amounts of material. A fifth hook near the handle supports a steelyard weight in the form of a female, perhaps a merchant or an empress, as a means of calibrating the balance before use. Layers of green and russet patina cover the entire measuring ensemble which adds to its elegant presentation. Custom museum-quality display stand included. Size: 30.25" L (76.8 cm); 18.5" H (47 cm) on included custom stand.
  
  Steelyard balances were practical and popular devices for weighing all kinds of commodities and was used throughout the Roman and early Byzantine periods. Thought to have been invented by the Romans, the steelyard was an unequal arm balance with a changeable fulcrum and movable counterweight. The collar with the hooks on long chains was fitted over the shorter end with the various suspension hooks, while the sliding counterweight moved along the other end of the long calibrated rod. Vitruvius describes them and their function in his "De Architectura," Book X, 3-4.
  
  Cf. a steelyard with an empress weight, published in Kurt Weitzmann, ed., "Age of Spirituality." (New York, 1979), cat. no. 328, p. 345; another in the Praehistorische Staatssammlung, Munich, inv. 1987.996, published in Ludwig Wamser & Gisela Zahlhaas, "Rom und Byzanz." (Munich, 1998), cat. nos. 224-225, pp. 170-171.
  
  Cf. Ross, M.C. "Catalogue of the Byzantine and Early Mediaeval Antiquities in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection, Volume 1: Metalwork, Ceramics, Glass, Glyptics, Painting." Washington, 1962, fig. 71.
  
  For a stylistically-similar example of the measuring bar and hooks, please see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 22.139.14: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/251192
  
  Another stylistically-similar example, including the figural weight, hammered for $12,500 at Christie's, New York Antiquities Auction (sale 2007, June 4, 2008, lot 280): https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/ancient-art-antiquities/a-byzantine-bronze-steelyard-and-weight-circa-5079015-details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=5079015&sid=4db7462d-a22f-4509-aa86-4e0ff0e0e776
  
  Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Richard Wagner collection, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA, acquired in the 1960s
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
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  #139490

  Condition

  Surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age and use, loss to accessory on chain nearest to handle, fading to some incised details, minor nicks to hooks and figural weight, and slight bending to some elements. Light earthen deposits and lovely green and russet patina throughout.
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